City Council June 11 to consider resolution calling for annexation of South County Fire

The Edmonds City Council, at its meeting on Tuesday, June 11, will consider a resolution expressing the city's intent to proceed with annexation to the South Snohomish County Regional Fire Authority (RFA) – which would ultimately go before voters next year.

On May 28, the council voted 4-3 to postpone the resolution, deciding instead to meet in a work session to further discuss the implications of the draft resolution. (The council did, however, pass a related resolution on May 28, which identifies joining the RFA as the preferred alternative for Edmonds.)

The council's debate over fire and emergency medical services comes as costs continue to rise under the city's current contract with RFA, also known as South County Fire. In late 2023, the city received notice that South County Fire intended to terminate its current 20-year contract with Edmonds, effective December 31, 2025. (For more, see our previous article here. )

In response, Edmonds retained consulting firm Fitch and Associates to analyze its options. In his report discussed at the May 14 Edmonds Council committee meeting, Fitch presented three alternatives: an annex to the RFA, a contract with the Shoreline Fire Department for services or restarting the department's own Edmonds Fire Department. (Edmonds disbanded its fire department in 2009 when the city began contracting fire departments.) Fitch's analysis compared costs, benefits, tasks and implementation timelines, as well as the advantages and disadvantages.

During the June 4 work session, board members discussed revisions Fitch made to its report in late May at the board's request. The original Fitch report assumed that the city would have to procure all new fixtures and equipment, estimating an initial capital investment of $6,751,000. This investment would contribute to the total annual debt service estimated at $2.2 million per year – and suggested a delivery schedule for new equipment that could take 36 months. But on May 28, Fitch provided additional analysis of equipment costs, based on an amended Fire Department contract approved in 2017. That amended contract states that “as assets purchased by and transferred to the [South County Fire] The neighborhood as part of the deal will be purchased by the city” at fair market value. This includes all rolling stock and equipment used in fire stations at the time of acquisition.

What these new numbers indicate is that the $18.8 million cost to create an Edmonds Fire Department “is close to parity” with the $18.7 million cost to join the Regional Fire Authority (RFA),” council member Neil Tibbott said during the study session. However, he noted that $18.8 million to restart the Edmonds department would provide “basic fire service,” which does not include current services provided by the RFA, such as fire suppression at waterfront, rescue services and community paramedic services. Council members also learned of a range of other costs that could be involved in restarting an Edmonds fire department.

If the council approves the resolution that it intends to pursue annexation, the city and RFA will meet to discuss the terms and conditions of annexation, which includes updating contracts and agreements. After that, the RFA grants the city's annexation request and the resolution is placed on a special ballot for voters to decide. The likely date for this ballot measure would be April 2025.

Also at the June 11 meeting, the council is expected to adopt — as part of its consent agenda — an update to the city's accessory dwelling unit code, which the council discussed at length on June 4. regulations governing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) – both attached and detached – in Edmonds. The council has been discussing regulations related to ADUs for several years, but the Washington state legislature forced the issue with the passage of House Bill 1337 in 2023. The city of Edmonds currently only allows attached ADUs , but under HB 1337, it must allow up to two. ADUS per lot (attached or detached) by June 2025. The City has taken steps to implement the regulations sooner so they can be included in the 2024 Comprehensive Plan update.

The board :

— Get an update on the city's transportation plan, a required part of the Edmonds 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update. Learn more about it in our report here.

— Listen to a proclamation recognizing June 19 as June 19 Independence Day.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers, Public Safety Complex, 250 5th Ave. N. You can also attend and comment remotely via this Zoom link: zoom.us/j/95798484261. Or participate by phone: +1 253 215 8782. The webinar ID is 957 9848 4261.

Regular council meetings beginning at 7 p.m. are streamed live on the council meetings webpage (where you can view the full agenda), on Comcast channel 21 and Ziply channel 39.